Good Hope Scoping Suite praised by inspectors

Good Hope Hospital�s endoscopy service has been congratulated in a formal inspection report for having excellent staff and high standards of clinical care. The team of senior independent clinicians who carried out the inspection said staff showed excellent teamwork and achieved good waiting times for treatment. All endoscopy services must undergo formal inspection once every five years. In its formal report, the inspection team said the Scoping Suite in Good Hope�s treatment centre �is to be congratulated on�: ? Achieving a �good practice� rating for providing patient-centred care for all procedures ? Excellent teamwork and communication across all disciplines ? Providing good standards of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy ? Having happy and enthusiastic ancillary and clerical staff who demonstrate impressive service procedures ? A low number of patients who do not attend for their procedures ? Excellent leadership by the service manager The Scoping Suite�s services have now been �approved� for another five years. Mr David Bowden, Medical and Managing Director of Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust, said: �By any standards this is a very positive report. It shows Good Hope has a first class endoscopy service providing excellent care for patients. �Endoscopy services are vital to a modern hospital because a wide variety of specialties rely on them for fast and efficient diagnosis of many medical problems. Only then can treatment plans be developed. �We recognised the growing importance of this discipline which is why the Scoping Suite is a key part of our treatment centre. It�s good to see this investment is paying off and the patients are benefiting from such a high quality service. �This inspection supports the findings of our own internal patient surveys which indicate very high levels of satisfaction with the service. I want to congratulate staff for doing such an excellent job.� Around 6,000 patients undergo endoscopy examinations in the Scoping Suite every year. A wide range of upper and lower body examinations are carried out to investigate a patient�s intestines, lungs, stomach or urinary system. As well as conducting patient surveys, staff keep a visitors� book in the recovery area. Recent comments include: �Thank you all for your kindness and obvious expertise � a wonderful team.� �Very nice staff. Lady holding my hand during the procedure � brilliant comfort.� �As always, I was treated in a professional and personal manner.� �Lovely staff kept me in stitches (good jokes!)� �A caring, thoughtful, comfortable, painless experience. Thanks!� The inspection team recommended that a new computer database should be introduced to manage record keeping and monitor clinical activity. This has now been agreed and the Scoping Suite is in the process of purchasing a new computer system. For more information, contact Andy Comber, Head of Communications, at Good Hope NHS Trust: 0121 378 2211 ext 1146, Mob: 07974 575104. Editor�s note: Endoscopes are flexible tubes of various types and sizes that can be inserted into the body through the nose, mouth, anus or urethra. They can be manipulated by the clinician who can view the inside of the body using a camera. If necessary, the scope can be used to help carry out minor procedures or take samples for further diagnosis.

Source : Good Hope